When God Shows up

Acts 2

War had already been waging in Europe for months when Pope Benedict issued a plea from Rome on Dec. 7, 1914 to leaders of Europe: declare a Christmas truce.

Benedict saw how badly peace was needed, even if it was only for a day. The First Battle of Ypres alone, fought from October 19 to November 22, had resulted in some 200,000 casualties (mostly German and French soldiers, but also thousands of English and Belgians). The First Battle of the Marne was even worse. 

In light of this carnage, the pope asked “that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.” 

The European leaders ignored his plea. 

Then something miraculous happened on the eve of Christmas. From No Man’s Land—the area between the trench works of Allied and Central forces—German troops, in a spontaneous act, put down their weapons and invited English soldiers to celebrate Christmas with them. It’s remembered today as the Christmas Truce.

The British cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather was one of many who chronicled the event. A machine gunner in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Bairnsfather was shivering in the muck of a three-foot trench on a cold night, munching on stale biscuits and chain-smoking, when he heard a noise at about 10 p.m. Via History:

“I listened,” he recalled. “Away across the field, among the dark shadows beyond, I could hear the murmur of voices.” He turned to a fellow soldier in his trench and said, “Do you hear the Boches [Germans] kicking up that racket over there?” “Yes,” came the reply. “They’ve been at it some time!” 

The Germans were singing carols, as it was Christmas Eve. In the darkness, some of the British soldiers began to sing back. “Suddenly,” Bairnsfather recalled, “we heard a confused shouting from the other side. We all stopped to listen. The shout came again.” The voice was from an enemy soldier, speaking in English with a strong German accent. He was saying, “Come over here.”

After some back and forth talk, British troops laid down their weapons, climbed out of their trenches, crossed the barbed wire, and joined the Germans. They traded handshakes and songs; they chewed tobacco and drank wine and laughed together—these men who earlier that day had been doing their best to kill each other.

Some accounts describe German and British soldiers playing “football” (soccer) on makeshift fields. Others mention British soldiers setting up barbershops and offering haircuts in exchange for cigarettes. The one thing all the accounts have in common is a general feeling of merriment among the soldiers.

“There was not an atom of hate on either side,” Bairnsfather recalled.

Afterwards, not everyone was pleased with the gaiety. Some military leaders reportedly seethed over the Christmas truce. But Bairnsfather suggests the soldiers themselves cherished the moment, which they sorely needed. 

There on the battlefield, God showed up. The war raged on for several more years. But on that Christmas night, God showed up and brought peace to the frontlines.

Let’s move back in time to the beginning of the church. The day where the Holy Spirit was given to man and God showed up.

Remember last week, 120 disciples were in the upper room praying.

Acts 2:1–4 “1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The day of Pentacost

Acts: Witnesses to the World Chapter 2: Birth of the Church (Acts 2:1–47)

Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost, or the Hebrew Shavuot, marks the anniversary of the giving of the Law to the Jewish nation and celebrates the theophany, or God’s appearance, at Mount Sinai.

Acts: Witnesses to the World Chapter 2: Birth of the Church (Acts 2:1–47)

Pentecost is also called Hag Hakatzir, the Feast of Harvest (

Another key point pondering is he location of this event. Luke says here they were in the same place. Traditional interpretation places the event in the upper room, however Acts 2:5 points that they were in the temple. It is more likely that they had moved to the temple courts for the feast of the Pentecost.

Regardless, imagine us all sitting in this room at 9 0’clock int he morning and there is a strong wind that rushes the room and fills it up with an overpowering Spirit of God.

Then we look around and see little fires over everyone’s head as they begin to speak in other tongues. Imagine being there that day and witnessing this moment in time. This moment in time, God was clearly present.

Peoples Response

Acts 2:5–13 “5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.””

Jerusalem was a major hub thanks to the Roman empire. Trade routes positioned Jerusalem as a key location in the first century. Because of this people from all over the world, moved to Jerusalem.

There is something here that points to the discussion of what exactly does it mean that they spoke in tongues. I think it is interesting to look at this passage to understand the gift of tongues. There were people from all over the world here, and they understood what was said in their own language.

tongues equals language.

But we know from scripture that there is an angelic language as well that we don’t understand. Is it reasonable that there was an angelic presence there where they too would have heard someone speak in their language. I think it is reasonable.

I also think we get wrapped up into a debate that divides and distracts us from hearing the truth. The truth is God showed up in an unexpected way to announce it was time for the harvest.

When God shows up people respond in 2 way, they believe or they reject Him.

The first group of people live in wonder “what does this mean?”

The second group live in denial. They observed the same thing and chose t reject what they saw.

How do we know that God showed up… we turn to Scripture.

Acts 2:14–41 ESV

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Everyone who calls on his name. Male or female, jew or greek white or black.

Acts 2:14–41 ESV

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

These same people Crucified Jesus were now calling these men Drunk.

Acts 2:14–41 ESV

25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

David foretold of Jesus dying and being risen again.

Acts 2:14–41 ESV

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

David reminded them that they were witness’s to what the people who are speaking in tongues were telling themi in their own language.

Acts 2:14–41 ESV

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Peter closes with Repent and believe.

When God shows up, we have to either reject God or Repent and believe in HIm.

What is the miracle that you have been praying for? When your receive that miracle, will you repent and believe.

if the miracle doesn’t happen, will you still believe.